On August 7, 2002, USA Today reported that Bryan Berard was very close to signing with the Boston Bruins. Sure, he had an inconsistent comeback year, but who wouldn’t after an injury like he had. Could this soon-to-be signing be the defencemen the Bruins have been looking for?

With hockey approaching rather quickly, teams are getting last minute signings and trades to try and start the season on a winnning note. The Canadiens have been rather quiet and still NEED to ink Jose Theodore.

Faceoff.com is reporting that Alexander Korolyuk has signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Superleague, the team with which he played six games two years ago. Korolyuk is a restricted Group II free agent which means the Sharks would be eligible to match any offer made by another team.

FOR the past three years, the Vancouver Canucks have been one of hockey’s fastest rising teams, going from cellar dwellers to Stanley Cup contenders in the process. Built patiently by General Manager Brian Burke, the Canucks have become a formidable opponent in the National Hockey League and should be formidable for many more years to come. However, of all the successes that Burke has achieved over the years, there is one area that his patient style has failed in, and that is the world of free agents. Where other teams have dived right in and fixed their teams instantly- or at least thought so- the Canucks sat back patiently, watching all of their targets get snapped up by more aggressive clubs. Fortunately for them, none of those free agents has ever been theirs- until now.

…AND so Pat Quinn was heavily fined by Gary Bettman, for last week publicly promising a 2004-2005 lockout, but that hardly matters, not when a lout like the Toronto GM and his buddies such as Vancouver GM Brian Burke continue to spread smoke under the NHL imprimatur that big- market teams such as the Rangers and Stars are imperiling the foundation of the league.

Here is the final edition for 2001-02, covering the entire year. My list of everyone who deserves more attention and those who have more in common with what stinks (literally) currently in Toronto…anyhow, this is my list: again, feel free to comment and/or provide your own.

Ok, I know I’ve sat here and defended the Red Wings spending spree until I was blue in the face. I still don’t think they’re overly guilty. However, I’m also an extreme homer and do recognize that there is an extreme money problem in the NHL. With the Rangers going out and spending about 25 million dollars on getting 4 of the top 10 free agents on the market, plus getting Bure for almost nothing at the deadline (up to 35 million dollars on 5 players who definately are not worth 35 million dollars), things have gotten out of control.